Saturday, January 25, 2025 Nearly 77M passengers flew between the US and Europe in the year to Oct 2024, accounting for 31% of international traffic, with an average 83% seat load factor. In the 12 months leading up to October 2024, nearly 77 million roundtrip passengers flew between the United States and Europe, according to the US Department of Transportation. This impressive figure accounted for approximately 31% of the country’s total international air traffic.
On average, 83% of seats on transatlantic flights were filled during this period, reflecting the overall demand and capacity dynamics of the route. Seat load factor, a critical metric for airlines, represents the percentage of available seats or seat miles filled by paying passengers. This measurement provides valuable insights into an airline’s operational efficiency and financial performance.
Too much capacity can lead to lower fares, reduced yields, and lower load factors. Conversely, inadequate capacity may drive up fares and yields but risk leaving market opportunities unfulfilled. Striking the right balance is key for airlines to maximize profitability and market share.
Seasonality plays a significant role in load factor management. In winter, airlines often reduce capacity by cutting frequencies, changing aircraft types, or shortening operating periods. These adjustments can boost yields and improve load factors.
During summer, when demand typically surges, airlines capitalize on increased capacity, prov.
